StarBase provides testing and quality assurance services and solutions that take the risk out of deploying IT solutions. We bring a unique combination of innovation, imagination, rigour and technical excellence to the testing process - a process which can often determine the success or failure of your organisation. We have the expertise you need to ensure that your IT systems will not let you down.

Many of our clients retain our services year after year. They know they can rely on our integrity as well as our expertise. They know we understand the importance of clear communication - and that we will deliver on our promises. Being based in the UK enables us to provide a more personal customer service, and we strive to ensure that working with us is always straightforward and productive. We work in partnership with our clients, welcoming regular feedback that feeds into our culture of continuous improvement within StarBase. We can help you achieve more with your technology, ensuring the future stability and success of your organisation.

Our History

Our History

A Unique Record of Achievement

Not many technology companies that were founded in 1992 are still independent and prosperous today. StarBase is proud of its unique record of experience, achievement, integrity and success in the challenging, continuously evolving world of technology.

The company was founded in 1992 by our Managing Director Stephen Davis, by then already an experienced performance tester. Areas of focus in the early years were performance testing, IBM AS/400, technical services and the development of operations automation software. We built up the business steadily throughout the 1990s, riding a wave of increased demand in the years leading up to 2000, helping many organisations become Y2K compliant. Throughout our history we’ve developed enduring partnerships with major technology providers including HP, IBM and Spirent, to provide clients with the very best technical services and solutions.

In 2000 StarBase undertook a strategic review of the business and identified Testing as an area where they felt they could add significant value and apply their key principles of Quality and Delivery. In order to remain specialists rather than generalists, they decided to initially focus on Performance Testing, and developed a framework and methodology for performance testing. This has evolved greatly since 2000 and is one of the essential ingredients that underpins our success. As the business continued to grow, StarBase established practices for Functional Testing and Automated Testing, again focusing on specialist areas where we could add significant value.

Doing Business The Right Way

In recent years we have developed new services and solutions to help clients launch or rebuild digital business infrastructures; and to build and assure complex ERP environments, including SAP and Microsoft Dynamics AX implementations.

StarBase has now successfully completed over 700 projects, including multi-year engagements, for clients in many different industries. Many clients come to us through word of mouth recommendations and go on to retain our services year after year.

Above all, our success has been down to the talent and attitude of our people. Everyone at StarBase, from Board Members to our newest recruits, is here because they believe in doing business in the right way, treating our clients and business partners fairly. They want to help clients build and deploy the very best technologies that will enable them to achieve their business goals.

Our People

Our People

StarBase’s success is based on the talent and hard work of our people. Although our approach is based on robust, proven methodologies, we employ and train resourceful, imaginative people who go beyond a textbook approach.

That applies to our consultants, who enjoy working with clients to identify and mitigate issues that could destabilise your systems and it is true of our service delivery and support teams, whose diligence and attention to detail are essential to the success of every single project.

We ensure all our people have a strong understanding of business issues affecting the sectors we serve - we know this results in better decisions that benefit our clients. Our people build strong working relationships with clients and other stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcome to every project. We know - as you will find out when you work with us - that our people will do everything they can to help you achieve your business objectives.

Our People

Service Delivery & Support

Service Delivery & Support

Our Service Delivery and Support team works closely with the Business Development team, Consultants and clients. They make sure that all practicalities, including Consultant briefings, necessary security passes and clearances, are in order before our consultants arrive on site. The team ensures our delivery framework and governance processes are in place. They then support consultants and clients throughout delivery of a project.

The work of this team is essential to our success. They make sure no detail has been overlooked. Ultimately, their efforts ensure the efficient running of our business and the happiness and satisfaction of our clients.

Emma Bateman

Emma Bateman is the Service Delivery Manager, with responsibility for ensuring the efficient and successful delivery of all StarBase projects. Her job entails managing resources, stakeholders and project management; and looking after our consultants. She says the best thing about her job is “working with our fantastic consultants and with clients in different industries”.

Emma joined StarBase in October 2014, but has 15 years’ experience of working in the IT industry. She started off working in IT support, which gave her a solid, technical background, but went on to manage support teams within a number of different organisations, earning ITIL qualifications in IT service management and operations along the way.

In her non-work life, she has a passion for foreign travel, fine food and anything to do with history.

Michelle Hodsdon

Michelle Hodsdon is PA to the managing director and the senior management team at StarBase and also supports the business development team. Her responsibilities include budget tracking, quote and proposal generation and liaising with StarBase’s external partners.

Michelle is excited to join the friendly and talented team at StarBase and looks forward to working with Stephen as well as dealing with companies in different industries.

Michelle enjoys travelling, floristry, wine, chocolate, theatre trips, reading and films as well as baking and spending time with her family.

Reena Amin

Reena Amin is the Senior Operations Administrator at StarBase and has worked here since 2009. Her role entails managing client invoice queries, travel and accommodation for consultants and logistical arrangements for each project. In addition she manages facilites at our offices. Before working at StarBase she worked in various administration and project delivery support roles. She says the best thing about working for StarBase is that it is such a friendly company.

When she is not at work she is happiest spending time socialising with her friends and family.

Priya Kerai

Priya Kerai is StarBase’s recruitment manager and HR administrator. She manages recruitment for the business, covering permanent and associate, technical and non-technical roles, as well as managing HR administration. Before coming to StarBase she worked in recruitment roles in a number of different industries. She enjoys working for a company which she believes has a fantastic team in place, with a great support network. The size of the company means it’s possible to get to know the whole team, which she thinks helps to create a great working environment.

She spends her spare time travelling, being with family and friends, discovering great restaurants; and investigating new recipes – cooking is her favourite way to relax.

Consulting Team

Consulting Team

Our consultants are at the frontline of our work, delivering our services and solutions to clients. They draw upon their technical skills and industry knowledge to provide a clear view of whether or not an IT implementation is ready to go live. Their ingenuity, persistence, great project management and ability to create strong working relationships make this possible. They will identify and remove any problems that might otherwise threaten successful project completion.

We are very proud that many of our consultants joined StarBase as apprentices or graduates. They have honed their skills while working alongside our most experienced consultants on numerous challenging projects. That means clients can be sure StarBase consultants have all the skills and experience needed to deliver the best outcomes.

Find out about some of the members of the consulting team below:

Nickin

Nickin is a Senior Consultant at StarBase, who has been working for the company since August 2005. His technical knowledge and management experience means he can fulfil management roles on projects of all sizes and types. He also has experience in helping to recover projects that require rescue following failure on the part of other service providers.

As a senior member of the team, Nickin provides mentoring to our more junior consultants and technical support to the business development team. He is also involved in recruitment and in developing strategy.

Away from the office his life revolves at present around his family and his son, born in early 2015, but he also enjoys going to the gym, playing football every week and, as a boxing fan, training and getting into the boxing ring whenever he can.

Nigel

Nigel is a Senior Consultant at StarBase, having joined us as a seasoned software testing specialist in 2014. Previously, Nigel worked for a major IT supplier in roles including database and network administration, web design and both functional and performance testing; and then as an inhouse performance testing specialist working on projects that transformed the business. His work at StarBase has included leading complex global ERP projects, overcoming significant technical and logistical challenges to deliver success for the client. He says what he likes most about working at StarBase is the chance to work with talented, focused colleagues on a variety of projects.

Outside work Nigel’s great passion is sport: “I love sports, so I’m usually either watching or playing them.”

Lee

Lee is one of the Senior Consultants at StarBase. He joined the company as a graduate and has now worked here for ten years. He enjoys analysing business and user needs and translating client requirements into test automation solutions. Lee also has experience of managing onshore and offshore testing teams. In addition to line management duties he also acts as a mentor to junior staff. Among the aspects of working for StarBase that he most enjoys is the company’s willingness to help our people find the best work/life balance, allowing them to work flexibly when necessary.

When he’s not working with us, Lee spends all his time with his young family. He also loves to travel, experiencing and learning about different cultures, when he has a chance to do so.

Mark

Mark is a Senior Consultant at Starbase who joined the company in 2015. He has a wealth of experience across the development lifecycle, but is now primarily focused on test management. He is equally comfortable defining test strategy, building a test team, managing test execution, or developing an automated test framework. He has successfully managed complex test programmes, working with client staff, third party vendors and both onshore and offshore resources.

Mark is an experienced workshop facilitator and trainer; and is an organiser and member of the UK Test Management Forum.

Out of hours, Mark still plays regular, competitive cricket and team tennis, but his footballing exploits are now restricted to 5-a-side goalkeeping. Now that his family have grown up, he also has more time for global travel and to enjoy his passions for wine, walking and photography.

Stephen

Stephen is a Consultant who joined the business as a graduate in 2009. His primary role is the management and delivery of performance testing for business critical applications, helping clients to assure performance levels in line with SLAs prior to them going live. He also now has experience in managing complete project delivery lifecycles, using both waterfall and agile methodologies.

He has enjoyed working with a variety of clients including blue chip multinational financial institutions, but says the best aspect of working for StarBase is being part of a supportive and collaborative company where there is a willingness to adapt and change in order to ensure the highest quality of service for clients.

When he’s not testing, Stephen enjoys an active lifestyle, including playing football, running and working out.

Sarah

Sarah is one of the newer faces at StarBase, having joined us as a Graduate Consultant in September 2014. At present her duties include creating scripts used in performance testing to find out how well clients’ systems perform under pressure. She has helped test clients’ websites; and SAP, Microsoft Dynamics AX and Citrix implementations. She also helps to identify requirements and devise testing programmes for clients.

Sarah says she is enjoying working with clients in a number of different industries. She finds the process of pooling her skills with the knowledge and experience of other members of the StarBase team to provide clients with a great service particularly satisfying.

Jon

Jon joined StarBase as a graduate in 2011. His main areas of expertise are in using HP performance testing tools such as ALM and LoadRunner, but he also has experience using IBM’s Rational Test Workbench (formerly Green Hat Tester), which he has used when working for high profile clients in sectors including financial services.

He has also been involved in research into new testing tools and methodology and has developed training materials for newer recruits to the company. He says the best thing about working as a Consultant at StarBase is learning from his multi-skilled colleagues.

Away from work Jon likes “trying to hit a ball around 18 holes” and fine dining.

Greg

Greg is a Performance Test Consultant who joined StarBase as a graduate in September 2011. His experience since then has included working on three different long-term projects, which have helped him to gather significant experience in testing SAP and Oracle systems and HTTP/HTML infrastructures in particular. He says the fact that the projects with which he has been involved have saved clients millions of pounds is one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.

Greg says that working with StarBase has been of huge benefit not just in enhancing technical skills, but also because it has given him confidence to interact with clients.

When he needs to get away from performance testing Greg is a keen runner, cyclist and golfer.

Lawrence

Lawrence joined StarBase as a graduate in 2014, but already had over three years’ experience working in IT technical support. He says that having worked on a number of different computer systems he always had an interest in analysing performance constraints.

Now as an IT Performance Consultant he has performance tested a variety of business critical systems, such as SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Citrix and Web infrastructures; achieved by engaging with colleagues, clients and other stakeholders.

For him, the highlights of working for the company include the opportunity to travel widely across the UK, engaging with clients in different industries on projects which can prove challenging and require adaptability as well as technical skills.

In his spare time, Lawrence loves travelling, socialising; and watching and playing sports, particularly football and rugby.

Adam

Adam joined as a graduate consultant in November 2015. He has helped clients with their automated regression testing, and is developing good knowledge in UFT and Dynamics AX. He has created scripts for automated testing, and is quickly developing his skills in automation.

Adam likes working with complex problems, and enjoys discovering new and unique solutions to the most challenging of tasks. He finds that working with the StarBase team is very rewarding, and is looking forward to future challenges.

Outside of work, he enjoys travelling and relaxing on the beach with a good book.

Ed

Ed joined StarBase at the end of 2015 as one of our new graduate consultants, having just finished a conversion Masters course in Software development in his hometown of Belfast. This fresh approach and enthusiasm for IT has enabled him to develop his skills In automation. He already has experience in functional regression testing of Microsoft Dynamics AX and web based clients and has developed a good knowledge of UFT.

Ed says that the ‘soft skills’ learnt through the excellent training courses provided so far has given him the confidence to engage and interact with clients successfully, which in turn helps him to deliver a better overall service.

In his spare time Ed likes to explore whatever London has to offer and staying active, playing sports such football, table tennis and golf.

Senior Management

Senior Management

Members of StarBase senior management team take overall responsibility for day to day management of the company, while providing strategic leadership. Their work has enabled the development of the company into a widely respected player in a highly competitive market. The team also defines and maintains the company’s culture and ethos: doing business in the right way to benefit StarBase clients and employees, while working towards the long term goals of the business.

Stephen Davis, Managing Director

Stephen Davis is the founder of StarBase, having launched the company in 1992. As Managing Director his main focus is building the team, business strategy, business development, marketing strategy and financial management - along with the other duties associated with running an independent business in a tough business environment.

He has more than 30 years of experience working in IT, in a variety of roles that include development, project and programme management, operations management, software testing and consulting. This gives him a comprehensive understanding of the key drivers for IT and has given him the ability to talk knowledgeably to all areas of IT and business. Earlier in his career he was given responsibility for designing and equipping a new datacentre for a new head office for 600 people that then had to rapidly scale to support 1,500 users across several locations.

Since founding StarBase, Stephen’s biggest achievements have been building the team behind the company’s success, developing strong relationships with many people and companies, turning a small technology start-up into a preferred supplier of testing services and solutions for a huge variety of organisations in many different sectors; and maintaining that success in an ever-changing, intensely competitive market.

But he says one of the best parts of his job is the people he works with: watching staff at StarBase grow their skills, experience and confidence. Another has always been the process of leading the team who solve complex problems for StarBase clients - then enjoying the great client feedback the company receives afterwards.

Away from the business Stephen enjoys spending time with his family, including his two teenage children, particularly when skiing, scuba diving and sailing. He also took on the challenge of learning to play the piano several years ago.

Alan Moulsdale, Technical Director

Alan Moulsdale has worked for StarBase since 1997. He now has responsibility for identifying and formulating new products, services and solutions; and for evangelising StarBase’s solutions to existing and prospective clients. Alan architected StarBase’s Performance Testing Methodology. In addition to this being the foundation of many successful StarBase client projects, elements have also been adopted by blue chip organisations including companies in the financial sector and leading system integration specialists.

Alan can now boast almost three decades of experience in IT, having worked in roles including operations, development, networking, security, performance, management and consultancy; and for organisations within the financial, government, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, automotive, media, energy, utilities and health sectors.

He says the best aspects of working for StarBase are the varied and challenging work and the agility of StarBase’s approach. In his spare time Alan is a keen photographer, follows Formula 1, supports Southampton FC and practises karate.

Mark Adamson, Head of Operations

Mark Adamson has responsibility for planning and driving continuous improvement in the operation of the business overall, focusing in particular on quality of service and solution delivery to clients. He enjoys working with smart people on interesting, challenging projects which can make a real difference to the success of our clients businesses. He also derives great satisfaction from helping graduate trainees develop into highly effective consultants.

Prior to joining StarBase in 2010, Mark served in senior management roles within companies working in sectors including leisure, major events and marketing, as well as technology. His primary focus in his current and many previous roles has been on gaining an understanding of client requirements, then working to build, develop and support teams to deliver those requirements.

Outside the office, Mark enjoys spending time with his family and is also a committed rugby fan and coach, working with mini and youth players at local and county level and taking a leading role in generating sponsorship for Hitchin Rugby Club. Any time left over after family and rugby commitments is spent cooking and expanding his knowledge of fine wine. When he gets the time he also enjoys skiing, boating, art and cricket.

Our Clients

Our Clients

Over the course of two decades StarBase has delivered hundreds of projects across many different industry sectors. Working with so many different clients has helped us to develop strong understanding of the business issues that face our clients.

Whichever sector your organisation operates in, whatever the nature of the technology assurance challenges you face, StarBase has almost certainly already provided solutions or services that will meet your needs. We will tailor our offering to match your requirements, from one-off Test&Go engagements to full scale managed services.

Finance and Insurance

Finance and Insurance

StarBase works with some of the most high profile banks and insurers in the world. We have provided assurance for new or upgraded core banking systems, consumer finance websites, trading platforms, mission-critical digital platforms, major ERP implementations and many other applications and systems. Our work within the general insurers and life, pensions and investment sectors has included everything from front end, customer-facing applications and systems to highly complex back office systems.

Many companies in this sector trust us to provide testing and evaluation services in both short-term and multi-year engagements. The volume of work we have completed in this sector has left us with a very good understanding of the business issues affecting companies in these highly regulated and extremely competitive industries. And our services can scale from one-off Test&Go performance evaluation engagements to full managed services.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing

We understand the logistical, commercial and practical issues that can hamper the launch of new applications and systems in the manufacturing sector. StarBase has worked with many different manufacturers over the past two decades. We can provide performance and functional testing services and solutions to reduce risks affecting - for example - core systems, supply chain systems; and digital applications and infrastructure, including cloud, mobile and B2B ecommerce systems.

We have worked with manufacturers of different types and sizes to complete PLM and ERP implementations, developing bespoke testing programmes to support major SAP and Microsoft Dynamics AX implementations. Clients have used our services and solutions in many different forms, from single one-off Test&Go performance evaluation engagements to full managed services.

Media

Media

StarBase has worked with a number of companies in the media industry, helping to devise and deliver performance and functional testing services and solutions. We have provided software assurance for new applications and systems, including digital applications and platforms. We understand how important it is that the systems upon which these companies rely function and perform as required – without them these businesses cannot provide the services that their customers and business partners demand.

We have enabled our clients to reduce risks that might otherwise have disabled both front end and back office systems. We have been able to develop bespoke services and solutions for clients working in the media industry, from single one-off Test&Go performance evaluation engagements to full managed services.

Public Sector

Public Sector

Public Sector organisations face some of the most complex technology and business challenges experienced by any of our clients. Some of the systems we test in this sector are not just mission-critical to an individual organisation: the effective running of municipal or national government, or of public sector functions depend upon them.

StarBase has a great deal of experience in working in this sector, providing the stakeholder management necessary to complete difficult projects, thereby helping our clients – and ultimately the taxpayer – to run public services and government organisations with minimum risk and in a more cost-effective way.

Retail

Retail

StarBase’s work in the retail sector has included testing core business systems and consumer-facing websites for both multichannel and pureplay retailers. We understand the huge importance of online and mobile commerce operations to retailers and the need for transactional and logistical systems to function quickly and correctly, even in the face of unpredictable, fluctuating demand.

We have helped retailers complete major supply chain, logistics and ERP implementations, including major SAP and Microsoft Dynamics AX projects. We have also helped retailers to build digital business infrastructures for the supply chain and back office functions upon which they, their customers and business partners rely. And we have assured in-store systems, including PoS.

We have a proven record in meeting the needs of retailers of very different types and sizes, with testing and evaluation programmes ranging from small-scale one-off Test&Go performance evaluation engagements to full managed services.

System Integrators and IT

System Integrators and IT

StarBase’s technical expertise is trusted by many other technology specialists. That includes system integrators who often come to us when they are in need of specific testing expertise. We have proved on many occasions our ability to identify and test a huge range of systems for technology companies of many different types and can scale our offerings from small-scale single consultant engagements to a complete managed service. In each case, our services and solutions, based on proven methodologies, help our clients to reduce the risk and ensure the success of their technology programmes.

Telecommunications and Utilities

Telecommunications and Utilities

StarBase has tested many different systems for companies in both the telecommunications and utilities sectors, from large to small and in forms ranging from one-off, small-scale engagements to full managed service arrangements.

This has included performance and functional testing of complex billing systems, along with customer-facing websites and other digital platforms, including mobile and cloud systems. Digital and online systems are now often mission-critical for these companies, in part because of the need to provide reliable self-service consumer solutions that can perform as required during sudden peaks in demand.

We have also tested the technologies that support these organisations’ core systems. Our work has also helped to identify and mitigate risks that might otherwise undermine aspects of critical national infrastructure.

Healthcare

Healthcare

StarBase has delivered a wide range of testing services and solutions to organisations working in the healthcare sector. Our ability to support the effective implementation of new technology for clients within this sector has helped them avoid unnecessary costs and risks as they improve the IT that underpins their business processes.

Clients working in this sector know they can rely on our technical capabilities and our understanding of the implications of the business and regulatory issues they face. Our services and solutions can be provided in every form ranging from one-off Test&Go performance evaluation engagements to full managed services.

Recent examples of our work include a Test&Go performance evaluation project for the NHS Blood & Transplant organisation; and for BUPA, a performance investigation of an application that had shown performance issues during the production process.

Other Sectors

Other Sectors

We work with organisations in many other industry sectors – including (in no particular order) energy, legal, accountancy, transport and logistics, construction, outsourcing and training.

Whichever sector you work in, whatever your technology assurance requirements might be, we have relevant industry or technical knowledge we can draw upon to deliver the services or solutions you need.

Contact us today to find out how our team could help you get the maximum possible benefit out of your new or existing technology investments.

Our DNA

Our DNA

At StarBase, we love problem solving and making technologies perform and function as they should. We are a highly skilled team with a determination and persistence to drive results and we work in partnership with our clients to help them achieve their long term goals. We put our clients first and always deliver on our promises and our clients appreciate our genuine and friendly approach.

We encourage our team to communicate in a straightforward, fair and honest way. Our people stay with us for the long term, developing their skills and careers. Providing job satisfaction is a priority for us and we are always looking forward to the next challenge.

Client Testimonials

"The StarBase contribution was massive. Not just technically, they also demonstrated excellent project management skills."- Deutsche Bank

“Easy to deal with, picked up the system etc. very quickly. Technically very proficient."- Markel

“StarBase’s area of strengths is communication, responsiveness, and high level of technical knowledge… The communication, and effort put forth on this engagement went above and beyond.”- Groupm

“Anything and everything that StarBase has done has been of the utmost quality. The consultants from StarBase are, without question, some of the most professional and genuinely nice people I have encountered in the IT industry. Each and every one of them is a credit to their profession.”- Shawn Foster, Non-Functional Test Manager, Aviva UK

“The StarBase Consultant has shown great pro-activity in his time here at Sainsbury’s, he's needed little or no support, and has worked very well with all stakeholders, and testers from other suppliers.”- Sainsbury's

“Getting the best out of load testing tools is a niche skill, and StarBase has the technical expertise to jump-start the whole process. As the projects expanded, it was also handy to find that as well as knowing the tools inside out, the StarBase consultants could also cope with the Accenture work ethic.”– Accenture

“The StarBase Consultant is a very professional, articulate individual who led us through the implementation of HP Service Test at TNT. The assigned task was not a difficult one however he made full use of his time here by providing guidance to other team members on best practice and potential direction for the future.”- TNT

“StarBase is very consistent in fulfilling the commitments and been very transparent in what can be achieved with the given constraints. Positive professionalism has been shown by StarBase staff. StarBase continues to provide excellent services. ”- British American Tobacco

“StarBase were engaged after another supplier failed to deliver to the standard required on a SAP implementation. Once onsite, the consultants were up to speed quickly and took problems away from us to be solved. Flexible, professional and approachable across the whole team I would certainly recommend them to other clients. ” – Portfolio Test Manager, SAP Programmes Jaguar Land Rover